Share this Page

Koeman: Deadline day just for ‘nervous’ managers

Ronald Koeman will not be involved in any more business of note on transfer deadline day – which is only for “nervous” managers.

The Dutch manager is adamant none of his first-team players will be leaving the club, a stance he has stuck to throughout the window.

Koeman said: “Maybe one of our young players like Jack Stephens or Harrison Reed, to let them play on loan, maybe that will happen today but not other big business.

“We did our job and I think if you have to do your job, or any big business, today then in my opinion you are nervous or you do not know what you have to do, because in my opinion it is a little bit late.

“I mentioned several times, we did our job with Charlie Austin and nobody will leave the club in January.”

Charlie Austin, 26, joined the Barclays Premier League side for a transfer fee of around £4million and Koeman is content at the business that has been done by the club after admitting in December he would be looking to bring a forward in to help lighten the injury problems faced by Jay Rodriguez.

He said: “We did our business and it is no disappointment because we spoke about the January transfer window, (the need) to have a striker in. I think it was fantastic business to bring Charlie in and keep the rest of the squad and that is good.

“He did a lot of work at the time when he was injured with his hamstring and he is on a very good physical level and he shows his qualities, not by the goal which he scored against United but also in the training sessions, and I am very happy with the form he is in.”

Southampton did not play at the weekend after being knocked out of the FA Cup by fellow Premier League side Crystal Palace earlier in January and Koeman found it unusual.

He said: “It is a little bit strange not playing at the weekend, we had some days off but we had normal training sessions Saturday and Sunday to be prepared for Arsenal.

“We are looking forward to the big game.

“They know it is difficult to beat Southampton and we have a good record against the big teams and we want to keep that.”

He added: “They have the pressure always to win, like Man City, like Man United, like all the big teams.

“They know that they have that kind of pressure and they can deal with that.

“They have great players, (Alexis) Sanchez is back and that is a big player who could be very important for the last games of the season.”